Colorants containing copolymerizable vinyl groups and sulfonamide linkages

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are thermally-stable, colored, photopolymerizable compounds containing a vinyl group which are capable of being copolymerized with reactive vinyl monomers to produce colored compositions such as polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polystyrene, etc. The compounds exhibit good thermal stability, fastness (stability) to UV-light, good solubility in the reactive monomers and good color strength.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/223,520 filed Aug. 7, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention pertains to thermally-stable, colored, photopolymerizable compounds containing a vinyl group which are capable of being copolymerized with reactive vinyl monomers to produce colored compositions such as polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polystyrene, etc. The compounds exhibit good thermal stability, fastness (stability) to UV-light, good solubility in the reactive monomers and good color strength.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

[0003] It is known (J.S.D.C., Apr. 1977, pp 114-125) to produce colored polymeric materials by combining a reactive polymer such terepolymers having epoxy groups or polyacryloyl chloride with anthraquinone dyes containing nucleophilic reactive groups such as amino or hydroxy groups; to graft acryloylaminoanthraquinone dyes to the backbone of vinyl or divinyl polymers; and to polymerize anthraquinone dyes containing certain olefinic groups to produce polymeric dyes/pigments. U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,056 describes the preparation of blue, substituted 1,4-diaminoanthraquinone dyes containing one acryloyloxy group and and the use of the dyes in coloring various fibers, especially polyamide fibers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,617 discloses liquid crystalline copolymers containing certain blue, substituted 1,5-diamino-4,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone dyes containing an olefinic group copolymerized therein to provide liquid crystal copolymers having high dichromism. U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,602 describes the preparation of certain substituted 1,4-diaminoanthraquinone dyes containing polymerizable acryloyl and methacryloyl groups and their use in coloring polyacrylate contact lens materials by copolymerizing.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,812 discloses the conversion of a variety of dye classes, including anthraquinones, into polymeric dyes by (a) polymerizing 2-alkenylazlactones and reacting the polymer with dyes containing nucleophilic groups and by (b) reacting a nucleophilic dye with an alkenylazlactone and then polymerizing the free radically polymerizable dyes thus produced. The polymeric dyes are reported to be useful for photoresist systems and for colorproofing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,039 discloses a process for preparing colored vinyl polymers suitable for inks, paints, toners and the like by emulsion polymerization of a vinyl monomer with reactive anthraquinone dyes prepared by functionalizing certain anthraquinone dyes with methacryloyl groups.

[0005] The preparation of a variety of dyes, including some anthraquinones, which contain photopolymerizable groups and their use for color filters suitable for use in liquid crystal television sets, color copying machines, photosensitive resist resin compositions, and the like are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,419.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention concerns thermally-stable, photopolymerizable dye or colorant compounds having having Formula I:

[0007] wherein

[0008] A is a mono-, di-, tri- or tetravalent chromophore;

[0009] R₁ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, aryl and —R₂—OQ;

[0010] R₂ is selected from C₂-C₈ alkylene, arylene, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylene, arylene-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylene-oxy-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylenethio-C₁-C₆ alkylene, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene and —(—CH₂CH₂O)_(m)—CH₂CH₂—;

[0011] m is 1-3;

[0012] n is 1-4;

[0013] Q is an ethylenically-unsaturated, photopolymerizable group selected from the following organic radicals:

[0014] wherein

[0015] R₃ is selected from hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl;

[0016] R₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl; phenyl; phenyl substituted with one or more groups selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, —N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)₂, nitro, cyano, C₂-C₆ alkoxycarbonyl, C₂-C₆ alkanoyloxy and halogen; 1- and 2-naphthyl; 1- and 2-naphthyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl and C₁-C₆ alkoxy; 2- and 3-thienyl; 2- and 3-thienyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl or halogen; 2- and 3-furyl; 2- and 3-furyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl;

[0017] R₅ and R₆ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, aryl or may be combined to represent a —(—CH₂—)—₃₋₅ radical;

[0018] R₇ is hydrogen or a group selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl and aryl;

[0019] R₉ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl and aryl.

[0020] A second embodiment of the present invention pertains to a coating composition comprising (i) one or more polymerizable vinyl compounds, (ii) one or more of the thermally-stable, photopolymerizable dye or colorant compounds of Formula I, and (iii) a photoinitiator. A third embodiment of the present invention pertains to a polymeric composition, typically a coating, comprising a polymer of one or more acrylic acid esters, one or more methacrylic acid esters and/or other polymerizable vinyl compounds, having copolymerized therein one or more of the dye compounds of Formula I.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] In formula I, A represents a mono-, di-, tri- or tetravalent residue of a chromophore, i.e., a colored compound. Examples of the chromophoric residues which A may represent include anthraquinone, anthrapyridone (3H-dibenz-[f, ij]-isoquinoline-2,7-dione), anthrapyrimidine (7H-benzo-[e]-perimidine-7-one), anthrapyridine (7H-dibenz-[f, ij]-isoquinoline-7-one), anthrapyrazole, anthraisothiazole, 14H-naptho[2,3-a]-phenothiazine-8,13-dione (phthaloylphenothiazine), phthalocyanine, metal phthalocyanine, methine, bis-methine, perinone, coumarin, quinophthalone, 3-aryl-2,5-dioxypyrroline, and 3-aryl-5-dicyanomethylene-2-oxypyrroline.

[0022] The terms “C₁-C₆-alkyl” and “C₁-C₈-alkyl” are used herein to denote a straight or branched chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing one to six or one to eight carbon atoms. The term “substituted C₁-C₆-alkyl” is used to denote a C₁-C₆-alkyl group substituted with one or more groups, preferably one to three groups, selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, halogen, cyano, aryl, aryloxy, arylthio, C₁-C₆ alkylthio, C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy and —(—OR₉—)_(p)—R₁₀ wherein R₉ is selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₆ alkylene, C₁-C₆-alkylene-arylene, cyclohexylene, arylene, C₁-C₆-alkylene-cyclohexylene and C₁-C₆-alkylene-cyclohexylene-C₁-C₆-alkylene; R₁₀ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy, C₂-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl, aryl and C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl; and p is 1, 2, or 3.

[0023] The terms “C₁-C₆-alkylene”, “C₂-C₆-alkylene” and “C₂-C₈ alkylene” are used to denote straight or branched chain divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals containing one to six, two to six, and two to eight carbons, respectively, which optionally may be substituted with one to three groups selected from C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₂-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl, C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy, hydroxy, aryl and halogen. The term “C₃-C₈-alkenyl” is used to denote an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing at least one double bond. The term “C₃-C₈-alkynyl” is used to denote an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing at least one triple bond and three to eight carbon atoms. The term “C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl” is used to denote a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon radical having three to eight carbon optionally substituted with one to three C₁-C₆-alkyl group(s). The term “C₃-C₈-cycloalkylene” is used to denote a cyclic divalent hydrocarbon radical which contains three to eight carbon atoms, preferably five or six carbons.

[0024] The term “aryl” as used herein denotes phenyl and phenyl substituted with one to three substituents selected from C₁-C₆-alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, halogen, carboxy, cyano, C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, C₁-C₆-alkylsulfonyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, optionally substituted sulfamoyl, C₂-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl, C₂-C₆-alkanoylamino and —O—R₁₁, S—R₁₁, —SO₂—R₁₁, —NHSO₂R₁₁ and —NHCO₂R₁₁, wherein R₁₁ is phenyl or phenyl substituted with one to three groups selected from C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy and halogen. The term “arylene” as used herein denotes includes 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-phenylene and such divalent radicals substituted with one to three groups selected from C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy and halogen. The term “aroyl” denotes a moiety having the formula —CO—R₁₁ wherein R₁₁ is defined above.

[0025] The term “halogen” is used to include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine. The term “optionally substituted sulfamoyl” is used to describe the group having the structure —SO₂N(R₁₂)R₁₃, wherein R₁₂, and R₁₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₃-C₈-alkenyl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl. The terms “C₁-C₆-alkoxy”, “C₂-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl”, “C₂-C₆-alkanoyl”, “C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy” and “C₂-C₆-alkanoylamino” are used to denote radicals corresponding to the structures —OR₁₄, —COR₁₄, —CO₂R₁₄, —OCOR₁₄ and NHCOR₁₄, respectively, wherein R₁₄ is C₁-C₆-alkyl or substituted C₁-C₆-alkyl.

[0026] The term “heteroaryl” as used herein denotes a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring containing one to three hetero atom selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen. Examples of such heteroaryl groups are thienyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, triazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, benzoxazolyl, benothiazolyl, benzimidazolyl, indolyl and the like and these optionally substituted with one to three groups selected from C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, substituted C₁-C₆-alkyl, halogen, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, aryl, arylthio, aryloxy, C₂-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl and C₂-C₆-alkanoylamino.

[0027] The preferred anthraquinone dyes or colorants of the invention which correspond to Formula I have the following structures:

[0028] wherein R₁₅ is hydrogen or R₁₅ represents 1-4 groups selected from amino; C₁-C₈-alkylamino; C₁-C₈-alkylamino substituted with one or more groups selected from hydroxy, cyano, halogen, aryl, heteroaryl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, furyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, arylthio, aryloxy and —OCH₂CH₂O (OCH₂CH₂)₁₋₃OR′, wherein R′ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl and C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy; C₃-C₈-cycloalkylamino; C₃-C₈-alkenylamino; C₃-C₈-alkynylamino; arylamino; furfurylamino; C₁-C₆-alkoxy; —OCH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₁₋₃OR′, wherein R′ is as previously defined; halogen; hydroxy; C₁-C₆-alkylthio; arylthio; aryl; aryloxy; arylsulfonyl; C₂-C₆-alkanoyl; aroyl; C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy; C₂-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl; heteroaryl; heteroarylthio; cyano; nitro; trifluoromethyl; thiocyano; —SO₂C₁-C₆-alkyl; —SO₂NH₂; —SO₂NHC₁-C₆-alkyl; —SO₂N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)₂; —SO₂N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)aryl; —SO₂NH-aryl; —CONH₂; —CONHC₁-C₆-alkyl; —CON(C₁-C₆-alkyl)₂; —CONH-aryl; —CON(C₁-C₆alkyl) aryl; C₁-C₆ alkyl; tetrahydrofurfurylamino; —CH₂-cyclohexane-1,4-diyl-CH₂OR′, wherein R′ is as previously defined; or

[0029] R₁₆ is hydrogen or 1-2 groups selected from C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy and halogen;

[0030] R₁₇ is selected from amino; C₁-C₈-alkylamino, substituted C₁-C₈-alkylamino is defined above, C₃-C₈-cycloalkylamino, C₃-C₈-alkenylamino, C₃-C₈-alkynylamino and arylamino;

[0031] R₁₈ is selected from halogen, amino, C₁-C₈ alkylamino, substituted C₁-C₈-alkylamino, C₃-C₈-cycloalkylamino, C₃-C₈-alkenylamino, C₃-C₈-alkynylamino, arylamino, hydroxy, arylthio, heteroarylthio, C₂-C₆-alkanoylamino, aroylamino, C₁-C₆-alkylsulfonylamino, and arylsulfonylamino;

[0032] X is a covalent bond or a linking group selected from —O—, —S—, —SO₂—, —NHCO—, —NHSO₂—, —NHCONH—, —OC₂-C₆ alkylene-, —OC₂-C₆-alkylene-O—, —S-C₂-C₆-alkylene-O— and, —O(CH₂CH₂O)₁₋₃—; and

[0033] R₁, R₂, Q and n are as defined above for Formula I.

[0034] Preferred anthrapyridone (3H-dibenz[f, ij]-isoquinoline-2,7-diones) and anthrapyridine (7H-dibenz-[f, ij]-isoquinoline-7-ones) colorant compounds provided by the present invention have the following general formulas:

[0035] wherein:

[0036] R₁₉ is selected from hydrogen, cyano, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, aryl, arylamino, aryloxy, arylthio, heteroaryl, heteroarylthio, halogen, C₂-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl, aroyl, C₁-C₆-alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl and C₁-C₆-alkylamino;

[0037] R₂₀ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈-alkyl, substituted C₁-C₈-alkyl as defined above, aryl and C₃-C₈-cyloalkyl;

[0038] R₂, is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl, aryl and —N(R₂₂)R₂₃, wherein R₂₂ and R₂₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, C₁-C₆-alkyl and C₁-C₆-alkyl substituted with C₁-C₆-alkoxy, hydroxy, halogen, C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy, aryl and C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl; wherein R₂₂ and R₂₃ also may be combined to produce divalent radicals such as (—CH₂—)₄₋₆ and —CH₂CH₂—L—CH₂CH₂—, wherein L is a divalent linking group selected from —O—, —S—, —SO₂— and —N(R₂₄), wherein R₂₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl, aryl, aroyl, C₂-C₆-akanoyl, C₁-C₆-alkylsulfonyl and arylsulfonyl; and

[0039] R₁, R₂, R₁₅, R₁₆, —X—, Q and n are defined above.

[0040] The thermally stable photopolymerizable colorants of Formula I may be prepared by reacting sulfonyl chlorides of Formula II with amines of Formula III,

[0041] wherein R′ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, aryl and —R₂OH, in the presence of base or enough excess amine reactant III to serve as acid acceptor. Typical useful bases are alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal bicarbonates, trialkylamines, etc. The reactions may be carried out in excess amine reactant HN(R′)R₂OH or in solvents such as ketones, pyridine, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NP), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), sulfolane, etc. The colored intermediate hydroxy compounds IV thus produced are then acylated with one or more ethylenically-unsaturated, acylating agent to yield the colorants of Formula I. Examples of the ethylenically-unsaturated acylating agents include compounds having the formulas:

[0042] Examples of intermediate sulfonyl chlorides II useful in the practice of the invention are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,403,092; 5,372,864; 5,453,482; 6,022,944 and Published PCT Application WO 98/23690. Additional sulfonyl chlorides of formula II are known and/or can be prepared according to published procedures.

COLORANT EXAMPLES

[0043] The thermally-stable, colored, photopolymerizable compounds containing a vinyl group provided by the present invention and the preparation thereof are further illustrated by the following examples:

Example 1

[0044] A mixture of 1,5-bis-[5-(N-ethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)sulfamoyl)-2-methoxyanilino]anthraquinone (U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,864, Example 21) (2.0 g, 2.66 mmol) and toluene (10 mL) was stirred and most of the toluene was removed under reduced pressure. DMF (50 mL), 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (D)MAP) (65 mg), triethylamine (1.1 mL), hydroquinone (20 mg) and methacrylic anhydride (1.22 g, 7.98 mmol) were added and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature for about 15 hours. The functionalized blue dye was precipitated by drowning into water (200 mL) and allowing the mixture to stand for several days at room temperature and was collected by filtration washed with water and dried in vacuo. Essentially a quantitative yield was obtained. FDMS supported the following structure:

[0045] An absorption maximum at 527 nm in DMF solution was observed in the UV-visible absorption spectrum.

Example 2

[0046] A mixture of 1,5-bis-[5-(N-ethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) sulfamoyl-2-methoxyanilino]-anthraquinone (U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,864, Example 21) (2.0 g, 2.66 mmol) and toluene (10 mL) were stirred and most of the toluene removed under reduced pressure. DMF (50 mL), DMAP (65 mg), triethylamine (1.1 mL), hydroquinone (20 mg) and crotonic anhydride (1.23 g, 7.98 mmol) were added. After being stirred at room temperature for 24 hours the reaction mixture was drowned into water (200 mL) and the mixture allowed to stand for awhile. The functionalized red dye was collected by filtration, washed with water and dried in vacuo. The yield was 1.96 g of product (83% of the theoretical yield). FDMS supported the following structure:

[0047] An absorption maximum at 529 nm was observed in the UV-visible light absorption spectrum.

Example 3a

[0048] To chlorsulfonic acid (10.0 ml) was added portionwise with stirring 3-methyl-6-(p-toluidino)-3H-dibenz-[f, ij]-isoquinoline-2,7-dione (2.0 g, 0.00546 m) allowing the temperature to rise. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1.0 hour with no cooling or heating and then gradually poured into 50 ml of saturated sodium chloride solution with ice added for cooling. The red sulfonyl chloride product was collected by filtration, washed with water and then added to diethanolamine (25 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred occasionally and heated at 95-100° C. for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was drowned into 100 ml of water plus 50 ml of saturated sodium chloride solution and the resulting mixture was heated to about 80° C. and then filtered by vacuum filtration. After being washed with water the red product was dried in air (yield—2.4 g, 80% of the theoretical yield).

Example 3b

[0049] A portion of the sulfonamide product from Example 3a (1.0 g, 0.00187 m), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)(25 ml), hydroquinone (10 mg) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP)(46 mg) were mixed together and the reaction mixture was stirred while methacrylic anhydride (0.838 ml) was added followed by the dropwise addition of triethylamine (0.785 ml). After being stirred at room temperature for 24 hours, the reaction mixture was drowned into water (50 ml).

[0050] The dark red product was collected by filtration, washed with water and dried in air (yield 1.0 g), 80% of the theoretical yield). FDMS supports the following structure:

[0051] An absorption maximum was observed at 534 nm in the UV-visible absorption spectrum.

Example 4a

[0052] To chlorosulfonic acid (95.0 g) was added 1-amino-2-bromo-4-(o-anisidino) anthraquinone (12.69 g), 0.03 mol) portionwise with stirring, at 25-29° C., over about 1.25 hours. After being heated at about 75° C. for 0.5 hour, the reaction mixture was drowned into isopropanol (10 L) with stirring and using an ice bath for cooling. After being stirred for 15 minutes, the drowning mixture was filtered by vacuum and the collected solid was washed with isopropanol and dried in a vacuum oven at room temperature (yield—12.01 g, 77%of the theoretical yield).

Example 4b

[0053] A portion of the 1-amino-2-bromo-4-(5′-chlorosulfonyl-2′-methoxy)anilino-anthraquinone from Example 4a (5.21 g, 0.01 mol) was mixed and stirred with tetrahydrofuran (THF) (125 ml). To this stirred mixture was added a solution of diethanolamine (3.18 g, 0.03 m) which was dissolved in THF. After stirring the reaction mixture for 50 minutes at room temperature, the THF was removed by using a vacuum rotary evaporator. The product was dissolved in 2-ethoxyethanol (175 ml) and this solution was then drowned into cold water (800 ml) to yield the solid blue product, which was collected by filtration, reslurried in hot water, filtered, washed with hot water and dried in air (yield—3.66 g, 62% of the theoretical yield). FDMS showed the structure to be 1-amino-2-bromo-4[5′-(N,N-bis-2-hydroxyethyl)-sulfamoyl)-2′-methoxyanilino]anthraquinone.

Example 4c

[0054] A portion (1.0 g, 0.00169 mol) of the product from Example 4b, DMF (25.0 ml), hydroquinone (10 mg) and DMAP (41 mg) were mixed and stirred while methacrylic anhydride (0.757 ml) was added followed by the dropwise addition of triethylamine (0.708 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 24 hours and then drowned into water (50 ml). The solid product was collected by filtration, washed with water and dried in air (yield—1.23 g, 84% of the theoretical yield). FDMS supported the following structure:

[0055] An absorption maximum was observed at 587 nm in the UV-Visible absorption spectrum in DMF as solvent.

Example 5a

[0056] To chlorosulfonic acid (95 ml) was added portionwise 1,4-bis-(2′,4′-dimethylanilino)anthraquinone (13.38 g, 0.03 mol) with stirring at 25-28° C. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours, heated for 30 minutes at 65-70° C. and then heated at about 95° C. for 40 minutes. After being cooled to room temperature, the reaction mixture was drowned by gradual addition to cold isopropanol (4.0 L). The product was collected by filtration, washed with isopropanol and then dried at room temperature under vacuum (yield—17.84 g, 92% of the theoretical yield).

Example 5b

[0057] A portion (6.43 g, 0.01 mol) of the sulfonyl chloride product of Example 5a, acetone (25 ml) and 2-aminoethanol (75 ml) was heated at about 95° C. with stirring for 2.5 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled, diluted with 2-ethoxyethanol (175 ml) and then drowned into cold water (800 ml). The dark blue product was collected by filtration, washed with hot water and dried in air (yield—5.39 g, 78% of the theoretical yield).

Example 5c

[0058] A portion of the sulfonamide product of Example 5b (1.0 g, 0.0014 mol), DMF (10 ml), hydroquinone (10 mg), DMAP (35 mg) and methacrylic anhydride (0.647 ml) were mixed and stirred together. Triethylamine (0.605 ml) was added dropwise and the reaction mixture was then stirred at room temperature for 24 hours and then drowned into water. The solid product was collected by filtration and dried in air (yield—1.1 g, 92% of the theoretical yield). FDMS supported the following structure:

[0059] An absorption maximum was observed at 630 nm in the UV-visible absorption spectrum in DMF.

Example 6a

[0060] A mixture of isopropanol (20 ml), N-ethylethanolamine (1.11 g, 0.013 m) and an anthraquinone disulfonyl chloride prepared by chlorosulfonating 1,4-bis-(2,6-diethylanilino) anthraquinone as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,121,351, Example 2 (1.75 g, 0.003 mol) having the structure:

[0061] was stirred at room temperature for 3.0 hours. The reaction mixture was drowned into a solution of concentrated HCl (10 ml) in water (150 ml). After stirring for about 15 minutes, the solid product was collected by filtration, washed well with water and dried in air (yield—1.84 g, 91.5% of the theoretical yield). FDMS supported the following desired structure:

[0062] Absorption maxima at 597 nm and 622 nm were observed in the UV-visible absorption spectrum in DMF solution.

Example 6b

[0063] A portion of the sulfonamide product from Example 6a (10 g), 0.00124 mol), DMF (25 ml), hydroquinone (10 mg), DMAP (30.3 mg) and methacrylic anhydride (0.556 ml) were mixed together and stirred while triethylamine (0.520 ml) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours and then drowned into water (50 ml). The solid product was collected by filtration and dried in air (yield—0.96 g, 82% of the theoretical yield). FDMS supported the following structure:

[0064] An absorption maxima at 579 nm and 623 nm were observed in the UV-Visible light absorption spectrum in DMF as solvent.

Example 7

[0065] A mixture of the copper phthalocyanine compound (0.100 g, 0.0000953 mol) prepared as in Example 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,980 and having primarily the structure CuPc[SO₂—N—CH₂C(CH₃)₂CH₂OH]_(2.5), wherein CuPc represents the copper phthalocyamine moiety, DMF (5 ml), hydroquinone (1 mg), DMAP (2.3 mg), methacrylic anhydride (0.071 ml) and triethylamine (0.066 ml) was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The reaction mixture was poured into 10 ml of methanol and then water (25 ml) was added. A semi-solid, blue product resulted, which was washed by decantation and then allowed to dry in air. The product consists primarily of the copper phthalocyanine compound having the structure, CuPc[SO₂NHCH₂C(CH₃)₂CH₂OCO—C(CH₃)═CH₂]_(2.5) and produces a brilliant cyan color when dissolved in DMF.

[0066] Additional examples of the thermally-stable, colored, photopolymerizable compounds of the present invention are set forth in the examples of Tables I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX. These compounds may be prepared by procedures analogous to those described in the preceding examples and/or by published techniques. TABLE I 1,4-Bis(arylamino)anthraquinone Colorants of Formula XIV XIV

Example No. R₁₆ R₁ R₂ Q  8 2′,4′,6′-tri-CH₃ CH₃ —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂  9 2′-C₂H₅, 6′-CH₃ CH₂CH₃ —CH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH₂ 10 2′,6′-di-C₂H₅ CH₂CH₂OCO— —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)—CH₂ C(CH₃)═CH₂ 11 2′,6′-di-C₂H₅ H —CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH—CH₃ 12 2′,6′-di-C₂H₅ H —CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 13 2,40 ,4′,6′-tri-CH₃ H —CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₃— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 14 2′,4′,6′-tri-CH₃ H —CH₂CH(CH_(3)—) —COCOCH═CHC₆H₅ 15 2′,6′-diBr,4′-CH₃ H —CH₂-1,4-C₆H₁₀₋—CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 16 2′-Br, 4′,6′-di-CH₃ H (CH₂)₄

17 2′OCH₃ H (CH₂)₆ —COCH═CH—CO₂CH₃ 18 4′,—CH₃ H —CH₂CH(OH)CH₂— —CONHCOC(CH₃)═CH₂ 19 2′-OCH₃,5′—CH₃ H -1,4-C₆H₄— —CONHC(CH₃)₂OCOCH═CH₂ 20 4′-OCH₃ H -1,4-C₆H₁₀— —COC(CH₃)₂NHCOC(CH₃)═CH₂ 21 2′,6′-diC₂H₅ H —CH₂CH(C₆H₅)— —CO-1,4-C₆H₄—CH═CH₂ 22 2′,6′-diC₂H₅ H —CH₂CH(OCH₃)CH₂— CONHC(CH₃)₂-1,3-C₆H₄—CH═CH₂ 23 2′,6′-diC₂H₅ C₆H₅ —CH₂CH₂—

24 2′,6′-diC₂H₅ C₆H₁₁ —CH₂CH₂— —COCH₂C(═CH₂)CO₂CH₃ 25 2′,6′-diC₂H₅ CH₂C₆H₅ —CH₂CH₂—

26 2′,6′-diC₂H₅ CH₂CH₂OCO— —CH₂CH₂— —CONHCOC(CH₃)═CH₂ NHCOC(CH₃)═CH₂

[0067] TABLE II 1,5-Bis(arylamino)anthraquinone Colorants of Formula XV XV

Example No. R₁₆ R₁ R₂ Q 27 2′-OCH₃ H —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 28 2′-OCH₃ —CH₂CH₂OCO— —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ C(CH₃)═CH₂ 29 2′-OC₂H₅ H —(CH₂)₃ —COCH═CH₂ 30 2′-OC₂H₅ —CH₃ —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 31 2′-OCH(CH₃)2 —C₂H₅ —CH₂CH₂— —CONHCOC(CH₃)═CH₂ 32 2′-OCH(CH₃)₂ H

33 2′-OC₄H₉-n H —CH₂CH(CH₃)— —CONH(CH₂)₆OCOC(CH₃)═CH₂ 34 2′-OCH₃,5′-CH₃ —C₆H₅ —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)₂NHCOCH═CH₂ 35 2′OCH₃,5′-Cl —C₆H₁₁ —CH₂CH₂—

36 2′,6′-diC₂H₅ H —CH₂CH₂— COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 37 4′-OCH₃ CH₂C₆H₅ —CH₂CH₂—

38 2-OCH₃ H —CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH₂ 39 2′-OCH₃ H —CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 40 2′-OCH₃ H —CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₃— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 41 2′-OCH₃ H

[0068] TABLE III 1,2,4-Trisubstituted Anthraquinone Colorants of Formula XVI XVI

Example No. R₁₅ R₁₆ X R₁ R₂ Q 42 —OH H O H —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 43 —OH H O —CH₂CH₂O— —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 44 —OH H S —C₂H₅ —CH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH₂ 45 —OH H S —CH₃ —CH₂CH₂—

46 —OH 2′OCH₃ O —C₆H₅ —CH₂CH₂— COCH═CH—C₆H₅ 47 —OH 4′OCH₃ O —CH₃ —CH₂CH₂—

48 —OH 4′CH₃ S H —(CH₂)₄ —COCH═CH═CO₂H 49 —OH 3′OCH₃ S H —CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH—CH₃ 50 —NHSO₂CH₃ H O H —CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 51 —NHSO₂C₆H₅ H O —CH₂CH₂O— —CH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH₂ COCH═CH₂ 52 —NHSO₂C₆H₁₁ H S H —CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₃— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 53 —NHCOC₆H₅ H O —C₂H₅ —CH₂CH₂— —CONHCOC(CH₃)═CH₂ 54 —NH₂ H O —C₂H₅ —(CH₂)₆ —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 55 —NHC₂H₅ H S —C₆H₅ —CH₂CH₂—

56 —SC₂H₅ H S —C₆H₁₁ —CH₂CH₂—

57 NHCONHC₂H₅ H O H —CH₂CH(OH)CH₂— —COCH═CH₂

[0069] TABLE IV 1,2,4-Trisubstituted Anthraquinone Colorants of Formula XVII XVII

Example No. R15 R16 X R1 R2 Q 58 —Br 2′-OCH₃ NH H —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 59 —Cl 4′-CH₃ NH —CH₂CH₂O— —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 60 H 2′-OCH₃, 4′- NH —C₂H₅ —CH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH₂ CH₃ 61 H 2′-OC₂H₅ NH CH₃ —CH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH—CH₃ 62 —OCH₃ H NH H —(CH₂)₄ —CONHCOC(CH₃)═CH₂ 63 —OC₆H₅ H NH H —(CH₂)₆

64 —SO₂C₆H₅ 2′-OCH₃ NH H —CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH—CO₂C₂H₅ 65 —SC₆H₅ 2′-OCH₃ NH H —CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₂— —COCH═CH₂ 66

2′-OCH₃ NH H —CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₃— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 67

2′-OCH₃ NH H —CH₂CH(OH)CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 68 —SC₂H₅ 2′-OCH₃ NH H —CH₂CH(CH₃)—

69 —Br 4′-CH₃ S H —CH₂OH(C₆H₅)— —COCH═CH₂ 70 —SC₂H₅ 4′-CH₃ S H —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 71 —OCH₃ 4′-CH₃ S H —(CH₂)₃ —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 72 —OC₄H₉-n 4′-CH₃ S —C₄H₉-n —CH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH₂ 73 —SO₂N(CH₃)₂ 4′-CH₃ S H —CH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH—CH₃ 74 —CF₃ 4′-CH₃ S H —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂

[0070] TABLE V Miscellaneous Anthraquinone Colorant Formulas EXAMPLE 75

EXAMPLE 76

EXAMPLE 77

EXAMPLE 78

EXAMPLE 79

EXAMPLE 80

EXAMPLE 81

EXAMPLE 82

EXAMPLE 83

EXAMPLE 84

EXAMPLE 85

[0071] TABLE VI Anthraquinone Compounds of Formula XI XI

Example No. R₁₇ R₁₈ R₁ R₂ Q 86 —NH₂ Br H —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 87 —NH₂ —S—C₆H₅ —CH₂CH₂O— —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 88 —NH₂

H

—COCH═CH—CH₃ 89 —NH₂

—CH₃ —CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH—C₆H₅ 90 —NH₂

—C₂H₅ —CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₂—

91 —NH₂

—C₆H₅ —CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₂—

92 —NH₂

—C₅H₉ —CH₂CH(OH)CH₂— —CONHCOC(CH₃)═CH₂ 93 —NH₂ —SCH₂CH₂OCOCH₃ H

—COCH═CH₂ 94 —NH₂

H —CH₂CH(CH₃)—

95 —NH₂

H

96 —NH₂

H —CH₂CH(C₆H₅)— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 97 —NH₂

H

—COCH═CH₂ 98 —NH₂

H —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂

[0072] TABLE VII Anthrapyridone Colorants of Formula XVIII XVIII

Example No. R₁₅ R₁₆ X R₁₉ R₂₀ R₁  99 H H NH H —CH₃ —CH₂CH₂O— C(CH₃)CH═CH₂ 100 H 4′-CH₃ NH —CN —CH₂CH₃ H 101 —CH₃ 4′-CH₃ NH —CN H —CH₃ 102 H 4′-CH₃ NH CO₂C₂H₅ —CH₃ —CH₂CH₃ 103 —Br 4′-CH₃ NH CO₂C₂H₅ H —CH₂CH₂— C(CH₃)CH═CH₂ 104 —S—C₆H₅ 4′-CH₃ NH CO₂C₂H₅ H —C₆H₅ 105 —SO₂C₆H₅ 4′-CH₃ NH CO₂C₂H₅ H H 106 —OC₆H₅ H NH CO₂C₂H₅ H —C₄H₉-n 107 H 4′C₂H₅ S —COC₆H₅ —CH₂C₆H₅ H 108 H 2′-CH₃ S —COCH₃ —CH₂CH(CH₃)₂ H 109 H 4′C₆H₁₁ S —S—C₆H₅ —CH₂CH₂OC₂H₅ H 110 H 4′-SC₂H₅ S SO₂C₆H₅ —CH₂C(CH₃)₂CH₂OH H Example No. R₂ Q 99 —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 100 —CH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH₂ 101 (CH₂)₃ —COCH═CH—CH₃ 102 (CH₂)₄ —COCH═CH-CO₂H 103 —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 104 —CH₂CH₂—

105 —CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂—

106 —CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₂—

107 —CH₂CH(CH₃)— —COCH═CH—C₆H₅ 108 —CH₂CH₂—

109

—COCH═CH₂ 110

[0073] TABLE VIII Anthrapyridone Colorants of Formula XIX XIX

Example No. R₁₅ R₁₆ X R₁₉ R₂₁ R₁ 111 H 4′-CH₃ NH —CN —N(CH₃)2 —CH₂CH₂O— COCH═CH₂ 112 H 4′-CH₃ NH —CN —N(C₂H₅)₂ —CH₂CH₂O— COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 113 H 2′-OCH₃ NH —CN

H 114 H 2′-OCH₃ NH —CN

—CH₃ 115 H 2′-OCH₃ S —CN —N(CH₃)C₆H₅ —CH₂CH₃ 116 H 4′-C₂H₅ S —CN —N(CH₃)C₆H₁₁ H 117 —Br 4′-C₆H₁₁ S H H H 118 —OC₆H₃ 4′-OCH₃ S —CN —N(CH₃)C₂H₅ H 119 —SC₆H₅ 4′-OCH₃ NH —C₆H₅ —CH₃ —C₆H₅ 120 —SO₂C₆H₅ 4′-OCH₃ NH —CN —N(C₄H₉-n)₂ H Example No. R₂ Q 111 —CH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH₂ 112 —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ 113 —CH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH—CH₃ 114 —CH₂CH₂—

115 —CH₂CH₂— —COCH═CH₂ 116 —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ OCH₂CH₂— 117 —CH₂CH₂— —OCH═CH—C₆H₅ (OCH₂CH₂)₂— 118 — —COCH═CH—CO₂C₂H₅ CH₂CH(CH₃)— 119 —CH₂CH₂—

120 —CH₂CH₂— —COC(CH₃)═CH₂ (OCH₂CH₂)₃—

[0074] TABLE IX Colorants Having Miscellaneous Structures EXAMPLE 121

EXAMPLE 122

EXAMPLE 123

Pc = phthalocyanine ring EXAMPLE 124

Pc = phthalocyanine ring EXAMPLE 125

EXAMPLE 126

EXAMPLE 127

EXAMPLE 128

[0075] The thermally-stable, colored, photopolymerizable compounds which contain vinyl or substituted vinyl groups are polymerizable or copolymerizable, preferably by free radical mechanisms, said free radicals being generated by exposure to UV light by methods known in the art of preparing UV-cured resins. Polymerization can be facilitated by the addition of photoinitiators. The colored polymeric materials normally are prepared by dissolving the functionalized colorants containing copolymerizable groups in a polymerizable vinyl monomer with or without another solvent and then combining with an oligomeric or polymeric material which contains one or more vinyl or substituted vinyl groups.

[0076] The second embodiment of the present invention is a coating composition comprising (i) one or more polymerizable vinyl compounds, i.e., vinyl compounds which are copolymerizable with the dye compounds described herein, (ii) one or more of the dye compounds described above, and (iii) at least one photoinitiator. The polymerizable vinyl compounds useful in the present invention contain at least one unsaturated group capable of undergoing polymerization upon exposure to UV radiation in the presence of a photoinitiator, i.e., the coating compositions are radiation-curable. Examples of such polymerizable vinyl compounds include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and their anhydrides; crotonic acid; itaconic acid and its anhydride; cyanoacrylic acid and its esters; esters of acrylic and methacrylic acids such as allyl, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, butyl, tetrahydrofurfuryl, cyclohexyl, isobomyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, 2-ethylhexyl, lauryl, stearyl, and benzyl acrylate and methacrylate; and diacrylate and dimethacrylate esters of ethylene and propylene glycols, 1,3-butylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, diethylene and dipropylene glycols, triethylene and tripropylene glycols, 1,6-hexanediol, neopentyl glycol, polyethylene glycol, and polypropylene glycol, ethoxylated bisphenol A, ethoxylated and propoxylated neopentyl glycol; triacrylate and trimethacrylate esters of tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)isocyanurate, trimethylolpropane, ethoxylated and propoxylated trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, glycerol, ethoxylated and propoxylated glycerol; tetraacrylate and tetramethacrylate esters of pentaerythritol and ethoxylated and propoxylated pentaerythritol; acrylonitrile; vinyl acetate; vinyl toluene; styrene; N-vinyl pyrrolidinone; alpha-methylstyrene; maleate/fumarate esters; maleic/fumaric acid; crotonate esters, and crotonic acid.

[0077] The polymerizable vinyl compounds useful in the present invention include polymers which contain unsaturated groups capable of undergoing polymerization upon exposure to UV radiation in the presence of a photoinitiator. The preparation and application of these polymerizable vinyl compounds are well known to those skilled in the art as described, for example, in Chemistry and Technology of UV and EB Formulation for Coatings, Inks, and Paints, Volume II: Prepolymers and Reactive Diluents, G. Webster, editor, John Wiley and Sons, London, 1997. Examples of such polymeric, polymerizable vinyl compounds include acrylated and methacrylated polyesters, acrylated and methacrylated polyethers, acrylated and methacrylated epoxy polymers, acrylated or methacrylated urethanes, acrylated or methacrylated polyacrylates (polymethacrylates), and unsaturated polyesters. The acrylated or methacrylated polymers and oligomers typically are combined with monomers which contain one or more acrylate or methacrylate groups, e.g., monomeric acrylate and methacrylate esters, and serve as reactive diluents. The unsaturated polyesters, which are prepared by standard polycondensation techniques known in the art, are most often combined with either styrene or other monomers, which contain one or more acrylate or methacrylate groups and serve as reactive diluents. A second embodiment for the utilization of unsaturated polyesters that is known to the art involves the combination of the unsaturated polyester with monomers that contain two or more vinyl ether groups or two or more vinyl ester groups (WO 96/01283, WO 97/48744, and EP 0 322 808).

[0078] The coating compositions of the present invention optionally may contain one or more added organic solvents if desired to facilitate application and coating of the compositions onto the surface of substrates. Typical examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to ketones, alcohols, esters, chlorinated hydrocarbons, glycol ethers, glycol esters, and mixtures thereof Specific examples include, but are not limited to acetone, 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, ethylene glycol diacetate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monopropyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl glycol, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, methylene chloride, chloroform, and mixtures thereof. The amount of added or extraneous solvent which may be present in our novel coating compositions may be in the range of about 1 to 70 weight percent, more typically about 1 to 25 weight percent, based on the total weight of the coating composition.

[0079] Certain polymerizable vinyl monomers may serve as both reactant and solvent. These contain at least one unsaturated group capable of undergoing polymerization upon exposure to UV radiation in the presence of a photoinitiator. Specific examples include, but are not limited to: methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, ethyl acrylate and methacrylate, methyl acrylate and methacrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate and methacrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, 1,6 hexanediol di(meth)acrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate and methacrylate, vinyl ethers, divinyl ethers such as diethyleneglycol divinyl ether, 1,6-hexanediol divinyl ether, cyclohexanedimethanol divinyl ether, 1,4-butanediol divinyl ether, triethyleneglycol divinyl ether, trimethylolpropane divinyl ether, and neopentyl glycol divinyl ether, vinyl esters, divinyl esters such as divinyl adipate, divinyl succinate, divinyl glutarate, divinyl 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate, divinyl 1,3-cyclohexanedicarboxylate, divinyl isophthalate, and divinyl terephthalate, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, and mixtures thereof.

[0080] In addition, the compositions of the present invention may be dispersed in water rather than dissolved in a solvent to facilitate application and coating of the substrate surface. In the water-dispersed compositions of the present invention a co-solvent is optionally used. Typical examples of suitable cosolvents include but are not limited to acetone, 2-butanone, methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monopropyl ether, and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol. Typical examples of water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated solvents include but are not limited to: methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, 2-ethoxyethyl acrylate and methacrylate, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, polypropylene glycol monoacrylate and monomethacrylate, and mixtures thereof. The amount of suitable aqueous organic solvent (i.e., organic solvent and water) in the dispersed coating compositions of the present invention is about 10 to about 90 weight percent, preferably about 75 to about 90 weight percent of the total coating composition.

[0081] The coating compositions of the present invention contain one or more of the thermally-stable, colored, photopolymerizable compounds described herein. The concentration of the colored compound or compounds may be from about 0.005 to 30.0, preferably from about 0.05 to 15.0, weight percent based on the weight of the polymerizable vinyl compound(s) present in the coating composition, i.e., component (i) of the coating compositions. The coating compositions of the present invention normally contain a photoinitiator. The amount of photoinitiator typically is about 1 to 15 weight percent, preferably about 3 to about 5 weight percent, based on the weight of the polymerizable vinyl compound(s) present in the coating composition. Typical photoinitiators include benzoin and benzoin ethers such as marketed under the tradenames ESACURE BO, EB1, EB3, and EB4 from Fratelli Lamberti; VICURE 10 and 30 from Stauffer; benzil ketals such as 2,2-dimethoxy-1,2-diphenylethan-1-one (IRGACURE 651), 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one (IRGACURE 1173), 2-methyl-2-morpholino-1-(p-methylthiophenyl)propan-1-one (IRGACURE 907), alpha-hydroxyalkylphenones such as (1-hydroxycyclohexyl)(phenyl)methanone (IRGACURE 184), 2-benzyl-2-(dimethylamino)-1-(4-morpholinophenyl)butan-1-one (IRGACURE 369), 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one IRGACURE 1173) from Ciba Geigy, Uvatone 8302 by Upjohn; alpha, alpha-dialkoxyacetophenone derivatives such as DEAP and UVATONE 8301 from Upjohn; DAROCUR 116, 1173, and 2959 by Merck; and mixtures of benzophenone and tertiary amines In pigmented coating compositions, the rate of cure can be improved by the addition of a variety of phosphine oxide photoinitiaters such as bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phenyl-phosphine oxide (Irganox 819), Irgacure 819, 1700, and 1700 and phosphine oxide mixtures such as a 50/50 by weight mixtures of IRGACURE 1173 and 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide (DAROCUR 4265) from Ciba. Further details regarding such photoinitiators and curing procedures may be found in the published literature such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,097, incorporated herein by reference. Depending upon the thickness of the coating (film), product formulation, photoinitiator type, radiation flux, and source of radiation, exposure times to ultraviolet radiation of about 0.5 second to about 30 minutes (50-5000 mJ/square cm) typically are required for curing. Curing also can occur from solar radiation, i.e., sunshine.

[0082] The coating compositions of the present invention may contain one or more additional components typically present in coating compositions. Examples of such additional components include leveling, rheology, and flow control agents such as silicones, fluorocarbons or cellulosics; flatting agents; pigment wetting and dispersing agents; surfactants; ultraviolet (UV) absorbers; UV light stabilizers; tinting pigments; defoaming and antifoaming agents; anti-settling, anti-sag and bodying agents; anti-skinning agents; anti-flooding and anti-floating agents; fungicides and mildewcides; corrosion inhibitors; thickening agents; and/or coalescing agents. The coating compositions of the present invention also may contain non-reactive modifying resins. Typical non-reactive modifying resins include homopolymers and copolymers of acrylic and methacrylic acid; homopolymers and copolymers of alkyl esters of acrylic and methacrylic acid such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, butyl, tetrahydrofurfuryl, cyclohexyl, isobomyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, 2-ethylhexyl, lauryl, stearyl, and benzyl acrylate and methacrylate; acrylated and methacrylated urethane, epoxy, and polyester resins, silicone acrylates, cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate butyrates, cellulose acetate, propionates, nitrocellulose, cellulose ethers such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose.

[0083] Typical plasticizers include alkyl esters of phthalic acid such as dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dipropyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and dioctyl phthalate; citrate esters such as triethyl citrate and tributyl citrate; triacetin and tripropionin; and glycerol monoesters such as Eastman 18-04, 18-07, 18-92 and 18-99 from Eastman Chemical Company. Specific examples of additional additives can be found in Raw Materials Index, published by the National Paint & Coatings Association, 1500 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005.

[0084] The third embodiment of the present invention pertains to a polymeric composition, typically a polymeric coating, comprising a polymer of one or more acrylic acid esters, one or more methacrylic acid esters and/or other polymerizable vinyl compounds, having copolymerized therein one or more of the thermally-stable, colored, photopolymerizable compounds described herein. The colored polymeric compositions provided by our invention may be prepared from the coating compositions described above and typically contain from about 0.005 to 30.0 weight percent, preferably from about 05 to 15.0 weight percent, of the reactive or polymerized residue of one or more of the vinyl dye compounds described herein based on the weight of the composition or coating. The novel polymeric coatings may have a thickness of about 2.5 to 150 microns, more typically about 15 to 65 microns.

[0085] The polymeric coatings of the present invention typically have a solvent resistance of at least 100 MEK double rubs using ASTM Procedure D-3732; preferably a solvent resistance of at least about 200 double rubs. Such coatings also typically have a pencil hardness of greater than or equal to F using ASTM Procedure D-3363; preferably a pencil hardness of greater than or equal to H. The coating compositions can be applied to substrates with conventional coating equipment. The coated substrates are then exposed to radiation such as ultraviolet light in air or in nitrogen which gives a cured finish. Mercury vapor or Xenon lamps are applicable for the curing process. The coatings of the present invention can also be cured by electron beam.

[0086] The radiation-curable coating compositions of this invention are suitable as adhesives and coatings for such substrates as metals such as aluminum and steel, plastics, glass, wood, paper, and leather. On wood substrates the coating compositions may provide both overall transparent color and grain definition. Various aesthetically-appealing effects can be achieved thereby. Due to reduced grain raising and higher film thicknesses, the number of necessary sanding steps in producing a finished wood coating may be reduced when using the colored coating compositions of the invention rather than conventional stains. Coating compositions within the scope of our invention may be applied to automotive base coats where they can provide various aesthetically-appealing effects in combination with the base coats and color differences dependent on viewing angle (lower angles create longer path lengths and thus higher observed color intensities). This may provide similar styling effects as currently are achieved with metal flake orientation in base coats.

[0087] Various additional pigments, plasticizers, and stabilizers may be incorporated to obtain certain desired characteristics in the finished products. These are included in the scope of the invention.

[0088] Coating, Curing, and Testing Procedures:

[0089] Samples of formulations were used to coat glass plates using a knife blade. The wet film thickness was about 15 to 75 microns (0.6 to 3.0 mils). The solvent was evaporated to give a clear, somewhat tacky film. Prior to exposure to UV radiation, each film was readily soluble in organic solvents.

[0090] The dried film on the glass plate was exposed to UV radiation from a 200 watt per inch medium pressure mercury vapor lamp housed in an American Ultraviolet Company instrument using a belt speed of 25 ft. per minute. One to five passes under the lamp resulted in a crosslinked coating with maximum hardness and solvent resistance.

[0091] Each cured coating (film) may be evaluated for Konig Pendulum Hardness (ASTM D4366 DIN 1522), solvent resistance by the methyl ethyl ketone double-rub test, and solubility in acetone before and after exposure to UV radiation. The damping time for Konig Pendulum Hardness on uncoated glass is 250 seconds; coatings with hardness above 100 seconds are generally considered hard coatings. The methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) double rub test is carried out in accordance with ASTM Procedure D-3732 by saturating a piece of cheese cloth with methyl ethyl ketone, and with moderate pressure, rubbing the coating back and forth. The number of double rubs is counted until the coating is removed. The acetone solubility test is carried out by immersing a dry, pre-weighed sample of the cured film in acetone for 48 hours at 25° C. The film is removed, dried for 16 hours at 60° C. in a forced-air oven, and reweighed. The weight percent of the insoluble film remaining is calculated from the data.

COATING EXAMPLES

[0092] The coatings and coating compositions provided by the present invention and the preparation thereof are further illustrated by the following examples.

Example 129

[0093] A colored, photopolymerizable composition was prepared by thoroughly mixing 22.9 g of dipropylene glycol diacrylate, 69.1 g of Jaegalux UV-1500 (acrylated polyester oligomers), the blue compound of Example 6b (4 g of a 1.25% solution of the colored compound in dipropylene glycol diacrylate), and 4 g of Darocure1173 photoinitiator in a small Cowles mixer until the components were completely dispersed. This coating composition was drawn down with a wire wound rod to provide a 25.4 micron (1 mil) thick coating on an Oak wood panel. This panel was passed through a UV cure machine at a speed of 6.1 meters per minute (20 feet/minute) using a lamp with an intensity of 118.1 watts per cm (300 watts per inch). Hardness measurements were conducted on glass using a Konig pendulum and did not indicate any significant loss of hardness due to incorporation of the dye; hardness was 83 Konig seconds. Adhesion of the coating to an oak wood panel was measured using the crosshatch adhesion method according to ASTM method D 3359 (ISO 2409). A right angle lattice pattern (6 lines in each direction) is cut into the coating, penetrating to the substrate, creating 25 squares with each side of the squares measuring 1 mm. A 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide piece of tape is applied to the lattice, pressure is applied, and then the tape is pulled from the substrate. If the edges are smooth and none of the squares are detached, the adhesion is 100% (ASTM rating 5B). On the wood panel a 5B rating was achieved for both the reference and the dye-containing coatings. All the coatings withstood more than 300 MEK double rubs. No loss of solvent resistance was observed with incorporation of the dye.

Example 130

[0094] A colored, photopolymerizable composition was prepared by thoroughly mixing 10.0 g dipropylene glycol diacrylate, 10.0 g tripropylene gylcol triacrylate, 20.0 g Jaegalux UV-1500 (acrylated polyester oligomers), 15 g Jaegalux UV-3800 (acrylated epoxy oligomers), the blue compound of Example 6b (5.5 g of a 1.25% solution of the dye in dipropylene glycol diacrylate), and 2.2 gram of Irgacure 819 photoinitiator in a small Cowles mixer until the components were completely dispersed (20 minutes at 12,000 revolutions per minute). This coating composition was drawn down with a wire wound rod to provide a 38.1 micron (1.5 mil) thick coating on a cold rolled steel panel (iron phosphate pretreatment) and on polyethylene terephthalate sheet. The coated steel panel and polyester sheet were passed through a UV cure machine at a speed of 6.1 meters per minute (20 feet/minute) using a lamp with an intensity of 118.1 watts per cm (300 watts per inch). The Konig pendulum hardness of the coatings on the steel panels was 126 Konig seconds. No significant loss of hardness (relative to the reference coating) due to incorporation of the dye was observed. All the coatings withstood more than 500 MEK double rubs. No significant loss of solvent resistance was observed with incorporation of the dye. Adhesion tests of the coatings on polyethylene terephthalate sheeting using the crosshatch adhesion method described in Example 129 showed no loss of adhesion due to incorporation of the dye and 100% adhesion for the coatings.

Example 131

[0095] A colored, photopolymerizable composition was prepared by thoroughly mixing the blue compound of Example 6b (10 g of a 2% solution of the dye in dipropylene glycol diacrylate), 20 gram trimethylol propane triacrylate, 20 g of polyester acrylate oligomer, 15 g of bisphenol A epoxy acrylate, and 4 gram of PI 1173 photoinitiator in a small Cowles mixer until the components were completely dispersed. The resulting coating composition was drawn down with a wire wound rod to provide a 25.4 micron (1 mil) thick coating on a 20 gauge sheet (1.27 mm—50 mils—thick) of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The coated sheet was passed through a UV cure machine at a speed of 6.1 meters per minute (20 feet/minute) using a lamp with an intensity of 118.1 watts per cm (300 watts per inch). Hardness measured on glass by the Konig Pendulum method indicated no reduction of the hardness due to the dye; hardness was 105 Konig seconds. Adhesion tests of the coatings on polyethylene terephthalate sheet in accordance with the crosshatch adhesion method described in Example 129 showed no loss of adhesion due to incorporation of the dye and 100% adhesion for the coatings. All the coatings withstood more than 300 MEK double rubs. No significant loss of solvent resistance was observed with incorporation of the dye. The coating provided an attractive even color over the entire coated sheet.

[0096] The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

We claim:
 1. A photopolymerizable colorant compound having tie formula:

wherein A is a mono-, di-, tri- or tetravalent chromophore; R₁ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, aryl and —R₂—OQ; R₂ is selected from C₂-C₈ alkylene, arylene, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylene, arylene-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylene-oxy-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylenethio-C₁-C₆ alkylene, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene and —(—CH₂CH₂O)_(m)—CH₂CH₂—; m is 1-3; n is 1-4; Q is an ethylenically-unsaturated, photopolymerizable group selected from the following organic radicals:

wherein R₃ is selected from hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl; phenyl; phenyl substituted with one or more groups selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, —N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)₂, nitro, cyano, C₂-C₆ alkoxycarbonyl, C₂-C₆ alkanoyloxy and halogen; 1- and 2-naphthyl; 1- and 2-naphthyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl and C₁-C₆ alkoxy; 2- and 3-thienyl; 2- and 3-thienyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl or halogen; 2- and 3-furyl; 2- and 3-furyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl; R₅ and R₆ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, aryl or may be combined to represent a —(—CH₂—)—₃₋₅ radical; R₇ is hydrogen or a group selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl and aryl; R₈ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl and aryl.
 2. A photopolymerizable colorant according to claim 1 wherein A is a mono-, di-, tri- or tetravalent chromophore selected from residues of anthraquinone, anthrapyridone, anthrapyrimidine, anthrapyridine, anthrapyrazole, anthraisothiazole, 14H-naptho[2,3-a]-phenothiazine-8,13-dione, phthalocyanine, metal phthalocyanine, methine, bis-methine, perinone, coumarin, quinophthalone, 3-aryl-2,5-dioxypyrroline, and 3-aryl-5-dicyanomethylene-2-oxypyrroline.
 3. A photopolymerizable colorant according to claim 1 having the formula

wherein R₁ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, aryl and —R₂—OQ; R₂ is selected from C₂-C₈ alkylene, arylene, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylene, arylene-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylene-oxy-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylenethio-C₁-C₆ alkylene, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene and —(—CH₂CH₂O)_(m)—CH₂CH₂—; m is 1-3; n is 1-4; R₁₅ is hydrogen or R₁₅ represents 1-4 groups selected from amino; C₁-C₈-alkylamino; C₁-C₈-alkylamino substituted with one or more groups selected from hydroxy, cyano, halogen, aryl, heteroaryl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, furyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, arylthio, aryloxy and —OCH₂CH₂O (OCH₂CH₂)₁₋₃OR′, wherein R′ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl and C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy; C₃-C₈-cycloalkylamino; C₃-C₈-alkenylamino; C₃-C₈-alkynylamino; arylamino; furfurylamino; C₁-C₆-alkoxy; —OCH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₁₋₃OR′, wherein R′ is as previously defined; halogen; hydroxy; C₁-C₆-alkylthio; arylthio; aryl; aryloxy; arylsulfonyl; C₂-C₆-alkanoyl; aroyl; C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy; C₂-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl; heteroaryl; heteroarylthio; cyano; nitro; trifluoromethyl; thiocyano; —SO₂C₁-C₆-alkyl; —SO₂NH₂; —SO₂NHC₁-C₆-alkyl; —SO₂N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)₂; —SO₂N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)aryl; —SO₂NH-aryl; —CONH₂; —CONHC₁-C₆-alkyl; —CON(C₁-C₆-alkyl)₂; —CONH-aryl; —CON(C₁-C₆alkyl) aryl; C₁-C₆ alkyl; tetrahydrofurfurylamino; —CH₂-cyclohexane-1,4-diyl-CH₂OR′, wherein R′ is as previously defined; or

R₁₆ is hydrogen or 1-2 groups selected from C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy and halogen; X is a covalent bond or a linking group selected from —O—, —S—, —SO₂—, —NHCO—, —NHSO₂—, —NHCONH—, —OC₂-C₆ alkylene-, —OC₂-C₆-alkylene-O—, —S-C₂-C₆-alkylene-O— and, —O(CH₂CH₂O)₁₋₃—; and Q is an ethylenically-unsaturated, photopolymerizable group selected from the following organic radicals:

wherein R₃ is selected from hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl; phenyl; phenyl substituted with one or more groups selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, —N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)₂, nitro, cyano, C₂-C₆ alkoxycarbonyl, C₂-C₆ alkanoyloxy and halogen; 1- and 2-naphthyl; 1- and 2-naphthyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl and C₁-C₆ alkoxy; 2- and 3-thienyl; 2- and 3-thienyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl or halogen; 2- and 3-furyl; 2- and 3-furyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl; R₅ and R₆ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, aryl or may be combined to represent a —(—CH₂—)—₃₋₅ radical; R₇ is hydrogen or a group selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl and aryl; and R₈ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl and aryl.
 4. A photopolymerizable colorant according to claim 1 having the formula

wherein R₁ is selected from hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R₂ is selected from C₂-C₈ alkylene, arylene, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylene, arylene-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylene-oxy-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylenethio-C₁-C₆ alkylene, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene and —(—CH₂CH₂O)_(m)—CH₂CH₂—; m is 1-3; R₁₆ is selected from 2′,6′-di-C₁-C₆ alkyl; and Q is —COC(R₃)═CH₂ wherein R₃ is selected from hydrogen or methyl.
 5. A photopolymerizable colorant according to claim 1 having the formula

wherein R₁ is selected from hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R₂ is selected from C₂-C₈ alkylene, arylene, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylene, arylene-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylene-oxy-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylenethio-C₁-C₆ alkylene, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene and —(—CH₂CH₂O)_(m)—CH₂CH₂—; m is 1-3; R₁₆ is selected from 2′,6′-di-C₁-C₆ alkyl; and Q is —COC(R₃)═CH₂ wherein R₃ is selected from hydrogen or methyl.
 6. A photopolymerizable colorant according to claim 1 having the formula

wherein R₁ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, aryl and —R₂—OQ; R₂ is selected from C₂-C₈ alkylene, arylene, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylene, arylene-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylene-oxy-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylenethio-C₁-C₆ alkylene, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene and —(—CH₂CH₂O)_(m)—CH₂CH₂—; m is 1-3; R₁₇ is selected from amino; C₁-C₈-alkylamino, substituted C₁-C₈-alkylamino is defined above, C₃-C₈-cycloalkylamino, C₃-C₈-alkenylamino, C₃-C₈-alkynylamino and arylamino; R₁₈ is selected from halogen, amino, C₁-C₈ alkylamino, substituted C₁-C₈-alkylamino, C₃-C₈-cycloalkylamino, C₃-C₈-alkenylamino, C₃-C₈-alkynylamino, arylamino, hydroxy, arylthio, heteroarylthio, C₂-C₆-alkanoylamino, aroylamino, C₁-C₆-alkylsulfonylamino, and arylsulfonylamino; and Q is an ethylenically-unsaturated, photopolymerizable group selected from the following organic radicals:

wherein R₃ is selected from hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl; phenyl; phenyl substituted with one or more groups selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, —N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)₂, nitro, cyano, C₂-C₆ alkoxycarbonyl, C₂-C₆ alkanoyloxy and halogen; 1- and 2-naphthyl; 1- and 2-naphthyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl and C₁-C₆ alkoxy; 2- and 3-thienyl; 2- and 3-thienyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl or halogen; 2- and 3-furyl; 2- and 3-furyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl; R₅ and R₆ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, aryl or may be combined to represent a —(—CH₂—)—₃₋₅ radical; R₇ is hydrogen or a group selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl and aryl; and R₈ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl and aryl.
 7. A photopolymerizable colorant according to claim 6 wherein R₁ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, and —R₂—OQ; R₂ is selected from C₂-C₈ alkylene, arylene, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylene, arylene-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylene-oxy-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylenethio-C₁-C₆ alkylene, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene and —(—CH₂CH₂O)_(m)—CH₂CH₂—; m is 1-3; R₁₇ is selected from amino; C₁-C₈-alkylamino, substituted C₁-C₈-alkylamino is defined above, C₃-C₈-cycloalkylamino, C₃-C₈-alkenylamino, C₃-C₈-alkynylamino and arylamino; R₁₈ is selected from halogen, amino, C₁-C₈ alkylamino, substituted C₁-C₈-alkylamino, C₃-C₈-cycloalkylamino, C₃-C₈-alkenylamino, C₃-C₈-alkynylamino, arylamino, hydroxy, arylthio, heteroarylthio, C₂-C₆-alkanoylamino, aroylamino, C₁-C₆-alkylsulfonylamino, and arylsulfonylamino; and Q is —COC(R₃)═CH₂ wherein R₃ is selected from hydrogen or methyl.
 8. A photopolymerizable colorant according to claim 1 having the formula

wherein R₁ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, and —R₂—OQ; R₂ is selected from C₂-C₈ alkylene, arylene, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylene, arylene-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylene-oxy-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylenethio-C₁-C₆ alkylene, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene and —(—CH₂CH₂O)_(m)—CH₂CH₂—; m is 1-3; R₁₅ is selected from hydrogen, amino; C₁-C₈-alkylamino; C₁-C₈-alkylamino substituted with one or more groups selected from hydroxy, cyano, halogen, aryl, heteroaryl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, furyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, arylthio, aryloxy and-OCH₂CH₂O (OCH₂CH₂)₁₋₃OR′, wherein R′ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl and C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy; C₃-C₈-cycloalkylamino; C₃-C₈-alkenylamino; C₃-C₈-alkynylamino; arylamino; furfurylamino; C₁-C₆-alkoxy; —OCH₂CH₂—(OCH₂CH₂)₁₋₃OR′, wherein R′ is as previously defined; halogen; hydroxy; C₁-C₆-alkylthio; arylthio; heteroarylthio; thiocyano; tetrahydrofurfurylamino; —CH₂-cyclohexane-1,4-diyl-CH₂OR′, wherein R′ is as previously defined; or

R₁₆ is hydrogen or 1-2 groups selected from C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy and halogen; X is —O—, —S—, —SO₂—, or —O—C₂-C₆ alkylene; and Q is —COC(R₃)═CH₂ wherein R₃ is selected from hydrogen or methyl.
 9. A photopolymerizable colorant according to claim 1 having the formula

wherein R₁ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, and —R₂—OQ; R₂ is selected from C₂-C₈ alkylene, arylene, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylene, arylene-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylene-oxy-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylenethio-C₁-C₆ alkylene, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene and —(—CH₂CH₂O)_(m)—CH₂CH₂—; m is 1-3; R₁₅ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkoxy; —OCH₂CH₂(O CH₂CH₂)₁₋₃OR′, wherein R′ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl and C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy; halogen; hydroxy; C₁-C₆-alkylthio; arylthio; aryl; aryloxy; arylsulfonyl; C₂-C₆-alkanoyl; aroyl; C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy; C₂-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl; heteroaryl; heteroarylthio; cyano; nitro; trifluoromethyl; thiocyano; —SO₂C₁-C₆-alkyl; —SO₂NH₂; —SO₂NHC₁-C₆-alkyl; —SO₂N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)₂; —SO₂N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)aryl; —SO₂NH-aryl; —CONH₂; —CONHC₁-C₆-alkyl; —CON(C₁-C₆-alkyl)₂; —CONH-aryl; and —CON(C₁-C₆alkyl) aryl; R₁₆ is hydrogen or 1-2 groups selected from C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy and halogen; X is —NH— or —S—; and Q is —COC(R₃)═CH₂ wherein R₃ is selected from hydrogen or methyl.
 10. A photopolymerizable colorant according to claim 1 having the formula

wherein R₁ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, aryl and —R₂—OQ; R₂ is selected from C₂-C₈ alkylene, arylene, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylene, arylene-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylene-oxy-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylenethio-C₁-C₆ alkylene, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene and —(—CH₂CH₂O)_(m)—CH₂CH₂—; m is 1-3; n is 1-4; R₁₅ is hydrogen or R₁₅ represents 1-4 groups selected from amino; C₁-C₈-alkylamino; C₁-C₈-alkylamino substituted with one or more groups selected from hydroxy, cyano, halogen, aryl, heteroaryl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, furyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, arylthio, aryloxy and —OCH₂CH₂O (OCH₂CH₂)₁₋₃OR′, wherein R′ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl and C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy; C₃-C₈-cycloalkylamino; C₃-C₈-alkenylamino; C₃-C₈-alkynylamino; arylamino; furfurylamino; C₁-C₆-alkoxy; —OCH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₁₋₃OR′, wherein R′ is as previously defined; halogen; hydroxy; C₁-C₆-alkylthio; arylthio; aryl; aryloxy; arylsulfonyl; C₂-C₆-alkanoyl; aroyl; C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy; C₂-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl; heteroaryl; heteroarylthio; cyano; nitro; trifluoromethyl; thiocyano; —SO₂C₁-C₆-alkyl; —SO₂NH₂; —SO₂NHC₁-C₆-alkyl; —SO₂N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)₂; —SO₂N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)aryl; —SO₂NH-aryl; —CONH₂; —CONHC₁-C₆-alkyl; —CON(C₁-C₆-alkyl)₂; —CONH-aryl; —CON(C₁-C₆alkyl) aryl; C₁-C₆ alkyl; tetrahydrofurfurylamino; —CH₂-cyclohexane-1,4-diyl-CH₂OR′, wherein R′ is as previously defined; or

R₁₆ is hydrogen or 1-2 groups selected from C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy and halogen; R₁₉ is selected from hydrogen, cyano, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, aryl, arylamino, aryloxy, arylthio, heteroaryl, heteroarylthio, halogen, C₂-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl, aroyl, C₁-C₆-alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl and C₁-C₆-alkylamino; R₂₀ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈-alkyl, substituted C₁-C₈-alkyl as defined above, aryl and C₃-C₈-cyloalkyl; X is —NH—, —O—, —S—, —SO₂—, or —O—C₂-C₆ alkylene; and Q is an ethylenically-unsaturated, photopolymerizable group selected from the following organic radicals:

wherein R₃ is selected from hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl; phenyl; phenyl substituted with one or more groups selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, —N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)₂, nitro, cyano, C₂-C₆ alkoxycarbonyl, C₂-C₆ alkanoyloxy and halogen; 1- and 2-naphthyl; 1- and 2-naphthyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl and C₁-C₆ alkoxy; 2- and 3-thienyl; 2- and 3-thienyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl or halogen; 2- and 3-furyl; 2- and 3-furyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl; R₅ and R₆ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, aryl or may be combined to represent a —(—CH₂—)—₃₋₅ radical; R₇ is hydrogen or a group selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl and aryl; and R₈ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl and aryl.
 11. A photopolymerizable colorant according to claim 1 having the formula

wherein R₁ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, and —R₂—OQ; R₂ is selected from C₂-C₈ alkylene, arylene, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylene, arylene-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylene-oxy-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylenethio-C₁-C₆ alkylene, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene and —(—CH₂CH₂O)_(m)—CH₂CH₂—; m is 1-3; R₁₅ is hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, or halogen; R₁₆ is hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy and halogen; R₁₉ is selected from hydrogen, cyano, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, aryl, arylamino, aryloxy, arylthio, heteroaryl, heteroarylthio, halogen, C₂-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl, aroyl, C₁-C₆-alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl and C₁-C₆-alkylamino; R₂₀ is selected from C₁-C₈-alkyl and substituted C₁-C₈-alkyl as defined above; X is —NH— or —S—; and Q is —COC(R₃)═CH₂ wherein R₃ is selected from hydrogen or methyl.
 12. A photopolymerizable colorant according to claim 1 having the formula

wherein R₁ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, aryl and —R₂—OQ; R₂ is selected from C₂-C₈ alkylene, arylene, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylene, arylene-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylene-oxy-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylenethio-C₁-C₆ alkylene, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene and —(—CH₂CH₂O)_(m)—CH₂CH₂—; m is 1-3; n is 1-4; R₁₅ is hydrogen or R₁₅ represents 1-4 groups selected from amino; C₁-C₈-alkylamino; C₁-C₈-alkylamino substituted with one or more groups selected from hydroxy, cyano, halogen, aryl, heteroaryl, C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, furyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, arylthio, aryloxy and —OCH₂CH₂O (OCH₂CH₂)₁₋₃OR′, wherein R′ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl and C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy; C₃-C₈-cycloalkylamino; C₃-C₈-alkenylamino; C₃-C₈-alkynylamino; arylamino; furfurylamino; C₁-C₆-alkoxy; —OCH₂CH₂(O CH₂CH₂)₁₋₃OR′, wherein R′ is as previously defined; halogen; hydroxy; C₁-C₆-alkylthio; arylthio; aryl; aryloxy; arylsulfonyl; C₂-C₆-alkanoyl; aroyl; C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy; C₂-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl; heteroaryl; heteroarylthio; cyano; nitro; trifluoromethyl; thiocyano; —SO₂C₁-C₆-alkyl; —SO₂NH₂; —SO₂NHC₁-C₆-alkyl; —SO₂N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)₂; —SO₂N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)aryl; —SO₂NH-aryl; —CONH₂; —CONHC₁-C₆-alkyl; —CON(C₁-C₆-alkyl)₂; —CONH-aryl; —CON(C₁-C₆alkyl) aryl; C₁-C₆ alkyl; tetrahydrofurfurylamino; —CH₂-cyclohexane-1,4-diyl-CH₂OR′, wherein R′ is as previously defined; or R₁₆ is hydrogen or 1-2 groups selected from C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy and halogen; R₁₉ is selected from hydrogen, cyano, C₁-C₆-alkoxy, C₁-C₆-alkylthio, aryl, arylamino, aryloxy, arylthio, heteroaryl, heteroarylthio, halogen, C₂-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl, aroyl, C₁-C₆-alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl and C₁-C₆-alkylamino; R₂₁ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl, aryl and —N(R₂₂)R₂₃, wherein R₂₂ and R₂₃ independently are selected from hydrogen, C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, C₁-C₆-alkyl and C₁-C₆-alkyl substituted with C₁-C₆-alkoxy, hydroxy, halogen, C₂-C₆-alkanoyloxy, aryl and C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl; or R₂₂ and R₂₃ in combination represent a divalent radical having the formulas (—CH₂—)₄₋₆ and —CH₂CH₂—L—CH₂CH₂—, wherein L is a divalent linking group selected from —O—, —S—, —SO₂— and —N(R₂₄), wherein R₂₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl, aryl, aroyl, C₂-C₆-akanoyl, C₁-C₆-alkylsulfonyl and arylsulfonyl; X is —NH—, —O—, —S—, —SO₂—, or —O-C₂-C₆ alkylene; and Q is an ethylenically-unsaturated, photopolymerizable group selected from the following organic radicals:

wherein R₃ is selected from hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl; phenyl; phenyl substituted with one or more groups selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, —N(C₁-C₆ alkyl)₂, nitro, cyano, C₂-C₆ alkoxycarbonyl, C₂-C₆ alkanoyloxy and halogen; 1- and 2-naphthyl; 1- and 2-naphthyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl and C₁-C₆ alkoxy; 2- and 3-thienyl; 2- and 3-thienyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl or halogen; 2- and 3-furyl; 2- and 3-furyl substituted with C₁-C₆ alkyl; R₅ and R₆ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, aryl or may be combined to represent a —(—CH₂—)—₃₋₅ radical; R₇ is hydrogen or a group selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl and aryl; and R₈ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl and aryl.
 13. A photopolymerizable colorant according to claim 1 having the formula

wherein R₁ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, and —R₂—OQ; R₂ is selected from C₂-C₈ alkylene, arylene, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylene, arylene-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylene-oxy-C₁-C₆ alkylene, arylenethio-C₁-C₆ alkylene, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene and —(—CH₂CH₂O)_(m)—CH₂CH₂—; m is 1-3; R₁₅ is hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl or halogen; R₁₆ is hydrogen or 1-2 groups selected from C₁-C₆-alkyl, C₁-C₆-alkoxy and halogen; R₁₉ is selected from hydrogen and cyano; R₂₁ is —N(R₂₂)R₂₃, wherein R₂₂ and R₂₃ are independently selected from C₁-C₆-alkyl or R₂₂ and R₂₃ in combination are a divalent radical having the formulas (—CH₂—)₄₋₆ and —CH₂CH₂—L—CH₂CH₂—, wherein L is a divalent linking group selected from —O—, —S—, —SO₂— and —N(R₂₄), wherein R₂₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆-alkyl, aryl, aroyl, C₂-C₆-akanoyl, C₁-C₆-alkylsulfonyl and arylsulfonyl; X is —NH— or —S—; and Q is —COC(R₃)═CH₂ wherein R₃ is selected from hydrogen or methyl.
 14. A coating composition comprising (i) one or more polymerizable vinyl compounds, (ii) one or more of the colorant compounds of claim 1, and (iii) a photoinitiator.
 15. A coating composition according to claim 14 comprising (i) one or more polymerizable vinyl compounds, (ii) one or more of the colorant compounds of claim 2 present in a concentration of about 0.05 to 15 weight percent based on the weight of component (i), and (iii) a photoinitiator present in a concentration of about 1 to 15 weight percent based on the weight of the polymerizable vinyl compound(s) present in the coating composition.
 16. A coating composition according to claim 15 wherein the polymerizable vinyl compounds comprise a solution of a polymeric, polymerizable vinyl compound selected from acrylated and methacrylated polyesters, acrylated and methacrylated polyethers, acrylated and methacrylated epoxy polymers, acrylated or methacrylated urethanes, and mixtures thereof, in a diluent selected from monomeric acrylate and methacrylate esters.
 17. A polymeric coating composition comprising a polymer of one or more acrylic acid esters, one or more methacrylic acid esters and/or other copolymerizable vinyl compounds, having copolymerized therein one or more of the colorant compounds defined in claim
 1. 18. A polymeric composition according to claim 17 comprising a coating of an acrylic polymer of one or more acrylic acid esters, one or more methacrylic acid esters or a mixture thereof having copolymerized therein one or more of the colorant compounds defined in claim
 2. 19. A polymeric composition according to claim 17 comprising a coating of an unsaturated polyester containing one or more maleate/fumarate residues; one or more monomers which contain one or more vinyl ether groups, one or more vinyl ester groups, or a combination thereof, and, optionally, one or more acrylic or methacrylic acid esters; or a mixture thereof having copolymerized therein one or more of the colorant compounds defined in claim
 2. 20. A polymeric coating according to claim 18 containing from about 0.05 to 15.0 weight percent of the residue of one or more of the dye compounds of claim 2 based on the weight of the coating. 